Dallas storms slow some LAX flights

Severe storms moved through Dallas just after noon Tuesday, forcing flights to be canceled and affecting related air traffic at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), LAX and across the nation.

Officials at LAX reported delays of three hours for departing and arriving flights, and the situation could easily get worse, with American Airlines and regional carrier American Eagle canceling about 460 flights into and out of DFW.

“We’re pretty well out of the flying business for the rest of the day today,” Tim Smith, an American spokesman, told Bloomberg. “Virtually all of our inbound flights will not take off and arrive this evening.”

LAX officials recommend that travelers with flights to and from DFW check their airlines for the latest status of their flights. The worst of the storms passed east of Dallas by mid-afternoon, but Joe Brancatelli of JoeSentMe.com, a passenger advocacy site, says schedules could be affected for the next 24 to 36 hours.

Because of the weather, at least 101 American and Eagle aircraft must undergo hail inspections before they can be flown, Smith said. Forty-eight flights headed for the airport were diverted before they could arrive, he said. Buildings at the airport were also being checked for damage, said David Magana, a spokesman.

Several tornadoes, baseball-sized hail and thunderstorms moved through the area, according to the National Weather Service. Flights into the airport were halted about 1:30 p.m. local time.

Bloomberg reported that Southwest Airlines canceled 25 flights from Dallas Love Field Airport and some flights were diverted before arriving.